PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Help on Applying for Citizenship

Hello everyone,
I am married to a Colombian who will be eligible to apply for citizenship
( spousal 3 year resident rule)... in about 6 months--- from what I can tell-- the process will take a miniumum of 6-9 months after filing the intial papers for her to be sworn in and eligible to apply for a passport??
We are wanting to go back to Colombia ASP-(because of various reason I prefer not to list here.. ).... we were married and living here almost a year before she received her permanent resident card- making her now actually living here married to me MORE THAN 3 YEARS-- Does anyone know of a way-- or think it is worth pursuing the effort with INS or writing to a congressman of my state TO TRY AND GET HER CITIZENHSIP through now or let us leave and still be able to apply for citizenship throught the American embassy while in Colombia---
THANKS IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS OR INFO ON THIS....

By colombiaboy on Dec 30, 2005, 09:20 in Visa & paperwork.

utopiacowboy says on Dec 30, 2005, 09:58:

She is going to have to be physically present in the US for the interview as well as for the oath of citizenship. You could fill out the paperwork and then go to Colombia and return here when she needs to be here.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dave_travels says on Dec 30, 2005, 13:31:

Intent to live in USA requirement Part of citizenship law is that one has the intent to live in the USA.
When a person naturalizes to become a US citizen, that person swears that they intend to live in the USA. If you try to get citizenship while openly stating that you quickly want to go to Colombia, you are breaking that law. I doubt politicians will help you break the law.

You would not break the law if the following scenario happens:

First you obtain the citizenship through the normal process and it is your full intention to live in the USA. Later, once a passport is in hand, an unforeseen circumstance occurs that causes you, through no fault of your own, to return to Colombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rjstuff says on Dec 30, 2005, 15:01:

I don't recall that I am a naturalized citizen and I didn't swear to living in the USA - I did take the oath of allegiance. And that oath is to the US constitution, nowhere did I swear to live in the USA. Yes, as a matter of course I was going to live here for at least some time!
Now, I can see many members of Visa Journey who get the citizenship for the benefits it may provide and do plan to leave for their own country soon after. More power to them. Many Americans also leave to live off their retirements in Mexico, South America, Central America etc. etc. So, do what you choose whether as a citizen or not. Good luck

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Dec 30, 2005, 15:39:

You're right, rjstuff. Once you are naturalised you have all the rights of a US citizen except holding certain political offices. One of these rights is the right to leave the US and live somewhere else. I haven't lived in Canada for 30 years but I am still a Canadian citizen.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.